Fluid agitator



Nov. 26, 1957' H...J. KROLL' 2,814,473

` FLUID AGITATOR Filed may z5. 1 955 2 sheets-sheet z Y El l i3 VINVENToR.

24 y Hm/d kwil United States Patent O l' FLUID AGITATOR Harold J. Kroll,Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 511,065

7 Claims. (Cl. 259-108) This invention relates to a fluid agitator andmore particularly to a device adapted for manual operation and selectiveapplication to and removal from a lluid container having a relativelysmall filler opening.

While the present invention is adapted primarily for use in conjunctionwith an auxiliary fuel tank for an outboard motor, operated on a mixtureof gasoline and oil, the device may be applied to and us-ed with equalfacility for the purpose of agitating fluids in any container having arelatively small filler opening.

For many years small gasoline engines, which have been operated on afuel comprising a mixture of gasoline and oil, have received their fuelsupply from a tank which formed an integral part of the machine whetherthe same was a lawnmower, outboard motor or similar machine. ln all ofthese instances, the machine itself was either portable in use orsubject to ready movement to effect the desired and thorough mixing ofthe gasoline and oil prior to the starting of the engine.

With the advent of the use of larger outboard motors and also multiplemotor installations on boats, it has become common practice to installand lixedly position an auxiliary tank, capable of holding severalgall-ons of fuel, in the boat. The fixed mounting of a large capacityfuel tank in the boat has presented a serious problem with reference tothe adequate and proper mixing of the oil and gasoline within the tank,prior to starting the motor, to insure proper lubrication to prevent theburning out of the bearings in the motor.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa new and improved fluid agitator which may be manually operated andselectively applied to or removed from a fluid container having arelatively small filler cap opening. The agitator serves to insure theadequate and proper mixing of the oil and gasoline prior to the startingof the motor.

Another object of the present invention resides in the t' provision of anew and improved iluid agitator including an impeller having radiallyextending blades which are capable of being deflected from their normalhorizontally extended position to a vertical position to reduce thenormal operating diameter of the impeller to a size that will permit itsready insertion into or the removal from the relatively small filleropening of a container.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of anew and improved iluid agitator mounting and positioning means which iscapable of ready application to or removal from the filler opening of acontainer.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a new andimproved guiding, positioning, and mounting means adapted for removableapplication to the liller opening of a container to releasably retainthe fluid agitator in operating position thereon.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the provision in thefluid agitator mounting means of a yieldable, deformable or expandablemember adapted to engage the filler opening of the container'to providethe Z,8l4,473 Patented Nov. 26, l'?

ICC

means for guiding, positioning and mounting the agitator on thecontainer.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of asimple, inexpensive, durable, and effective fluid agitator which may bemanually manipulated to insure the thorough mixing of the yoil andgasoline Within the container prior to the starting of the outboardmotor or motors.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an auxiliary fuel tank nowcommonly employed in conjunction with an outboard motor with partsbroken away to illustrate the application of a lluid agitatorconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the impeller constructed in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the lleropening of the container with the agitator shown in normally extendedposition in full lines within the container; the dotted line showing ofthe agitator indicates the deflected position of the several impellerblades to facilitate the insertion of the agitator through therelatively small filler opening; the dot-dash line showing indicates theposition assumed by the several impeller blades as the impeller is beingwithdrawn from the Container through the relatively small iilleropening; and also showing, in vertical section, the agitatorpositioning, guiding, and retaining means, in unexpanded conditionadapted for ready insertion into the filler opening prior to itsexpansion to releasably retain the agitator in operating position withinthe container;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the agitator positioning, guiding, andmounting means;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3,showing the deflected position of the several impeller blades tofacilitate their admission through the relatively small filler openingin the container; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3,showing a means for securing the shank portion of the impeller'onto theagitator shaft.

Before entering into a detailed description of the structure andoperation of the present device, it is deemed advisable to mention theparticular advantage of the present fluid agitator in lconnection withits use as a means for effectively mixing the oil and gasoline used asfuel for internal combustion engines, While the present invention isdesigned primarily for use in conjunction with auxiliary fuel tankswhich are usually xedly mounted in the boat, at a position remote fromthe outboard motor which it supplies with fuel, it is to be understoodthat the Huid agitator will operate with equal facility in conjunctionwith any container which holds fluids which should be thoroughlyagitated or mixed prior to their being Withdrawn from the container.

In the past, many outboard motors have been severely damaged or evenruined by having their bearings burned out due to the fact that the fuelsupplied to them, at the time of starting, contained an insufficientproportion of oil to properly lubricate them.

Since the specific gravity of gasoline and oil are not equal, the twotend to separate during periods of idleness of either the boat or motor.For this reason, it is imperative that the contents of the container bethoroughly mixed to insure the proper mixture of oil and gasoline whichis supplied to the motor when it is started. The lluid agitator,constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,provides a simple and eective device which may be releasably retained inoperating position in a container. The present Huid agitator is adaptedfor ready insertion into the container through the relatively small lleropening; it may readily be operated to thoroughly agitate and mix theuids in the container and it may be readily withdrawn from thecontainer, if desired, after the thorough mixing operation has beencompleted.

Referring more particularly to Fig; l of the accompanying drawing, itwill be noted that a iiuid agitator 1d, ccnstructed in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention, is adapted for removableapplication to a container 11 through a filler opening 12 which isnormally of small diameter. The container 11 chosen for illustrativepurposes in the accompanying drawing comprises a large capacityauxiliary fuel tank of the type adapted for fixed positioning in a boatto form a fuel supply for an outboard motor.

A vertically disposed shaft 13 carries an impeller 14 xedly mounted onits lower extremity. The upper end of the shaft 13 is bent outwardly toform a crank arm 15 on which an operating handle 16 is rotatablymounted.

A guide, positioning, and mounting means 17, carried by the shaft 13,serves as a means by which the device is removably applied to andreleasably retained in the filler opening 12 of the container 11.

The impeller 14 is preferably formed of suitable yieldable resilientmaterial such as neoprene and includes a cylindrical shank portion 18provided with an axial bore 19 adapted to be slidably received over thelower extremity of the shaft 13. The impeller 14 is retained in fixedposition on the shaft 13 by the application of a pin 20 which passesthrough aligned holes 21 and 22 formed respectively in the shaft 13 andthe shank portion 18 of the impeller 14. A plurality of radiallyextending blades 23 project outwardly adjacent the lower extremity ofthe cylindrical shank portion 18 of the impeller 14 and the lower end ofthe impeller 14 is provided with a downwardly projecting tip 24 whichforms a bumper adapted to Contact the bottom of the container `11 so asto position the radially extending blades 23 in spaced relationship withthe bottom of the container 11 when the agitator is in operatingposition within the container. It should be noted, that the blades 23 ofthe impeller 14 are cast integrally with the cylindrical shank portion18 and normally lie in a plane disposed at a right angle to that of theaxis of the cylindrical shank portion 18 of the impeller 14. It shouldalso be noted that neck portion 25 which form the junctions between theshank portion 18 and the blades 23 of the impeller 14 are of reduceddiameter to permit vertical detiection of the blades for the purpose ofreducing the normal diameter of the impeller to a size which will permitits insertion into and withdrawal from the relative small diameter ofthe filler opening 12 of the container 11.

The positioning, mounting, and guide means 17 is operable to releasablyretain the iluid agitator 10 in desired position in the filler opening12 of the container 11 and comprises a bearing member 26, preferablyformed of metal, having an axially disposed central bore 27 adapted toslidably receive the shaft 13 to form a bearing for the same. The lowerextremity of the bearing member 26 includes a head 28 having an inwardlyand upwardly tapering surface` 29 provided with an outwardly extendingear or lug 30. The upwardly extending shank portion of the bearingmember 26 is provided with threading 31. adapted to receive aninternally threaded sleeve 32 which forms a part of a jamb nut 33 thatincludes a anged head 34 and a downwardly extending shank portion 35which terminates at its lower extremity in an inner and downwardlytapering surface 36. The peripheral surface of the flanged head 34includes a plurality of outwardly projecting ears 37 which serve tofacilitate the manual tightening of the jamb nut 33 on the bearingmember 26. An expandable or deformable member 38 including a flangedhead 39 and a depending body portion 40 surrounds the shank portion 35of the nut 33 and is adapted for positioning between the bearing member26 and the jamb nut 33. The expandable member 38 may be provided with aradially extending axially disposed cut or slot 41 which splits the ringfor the purpose of facilitating its expansion or contraction in responseto relative movement between the jamb nut 33 and the bearing member 26.In order to accomplish the desired expansion or contraction of thedeformable member 38, it is provided with an axially disposed centralopening formed of contiguous axially aligned surfaces including acylindrical uppermost surface 43 adapted to contact the outer surface ofthe shank portion 35 on the jamb nut 33. A downwardly and inwardlytapering surface 44 is adapted to be engaged by the tapering surface 36of the jamb nut 33 as it is moved toward the bearing member 26. Thelower end of the tapering surface 44 merges into a cylindrical surface45 adapted to surround and contact the outer surface of the shankportion of the bearing member 26. The lower extremity of the cylindricalsurface 45 merges into a downwardly and outwardly tapering surface 46adapted to contact the tapered surface 29 formed on the head 28 of thebearing member 26. It should be noted that the flanged head 39 of thedeformable member 38 is provided with ears 47 adapted to facilitate theholding of the member 38 as the jamb nut 33 is tightened or loosened.Relative rotational movement between the bearing member 26 and themember 38 is precluded by the positioning of the lug 3i) which projectsfrom the head 28 of the bearing member 26 in the cut or slot 41 formedin the deformable member 38. The member 38 is expanded or contracted atwill by the tightening or loosening of the jamb nut 33 which cooperateswith the bearing member 26 to apply or release pressure on the taperingsurfaces 44 and 46 of the member 38. The application of grippingpressure between tapered surfaces 29 and 36 of the jamb nut 33 and thebearing member 26 on the tapered surfaces 44 and 46 of the member 33while the loosening of the jamb nut 33 on the bearing member 26 willoperate to relieve the pressure between the several tapered surfaces andpermit the deformable member 38 to assume its normal contractedposition.

A brief description of the application of the uid agitator 10 to thecontainer 11 and its removal therefrom Iwill serve to illustrate thesimplicity of the present device. The only preparation required for theapplication of the uid `agitator 10 to the container 11 comprises theremoval of the ller cap from the opening 12 in the container 11 and theloosening of the jamb nut 33 on the agitator positioning and guide means17 to insure that the deformable member 38 is in its contractedposition. The tip 24 of the impeller 14 is then placed within the filleropening 12 of the container 11 with the blades 23 of the impeller 14resting upon the upper marginal edge -of the filler opening 12. Slightdownward pressure upon the shaft 13 of the agitator 10 will cause thefree ends of the several blades 23 of the impeller `14 to `be deflectedand move upwardly. Continued downward movement of the shaft 13 willresult in the blades l23 assuming the position indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 3 as they pass downwardly through the relatively :smalldiametered opening 12 in the container 11. Reference to Fig. 5 of theaccompanying drawing clearly illustrates the `deflected position of theimpeller blades 23 Vas they are moved downwardly through the filleropening 12 of the container 11. As the tips of the several blades 23pass beyond the lower marginal edge of the filler opening 12 and beyondthe lower marginal edge of the depending shroud surrounding the lleropening 12, the blades will spring to their normal extended positionwhich is at a right angle with the cylindrical shank portion 18 of theimpeller 14. The member 38 may then be inserted into the filler opening12 of the container 11 to a. point where the under surface of the angedhead 39 of the member 38 engages the upper surface of the ller opening12. In the event that the ller cap lfor the opening 12 of the container11 is held captive 'by the usual chain, the member 38 should be soapplied that the chain is disposed within an axial groove 48 formed inthe outer surface of the split ring member 38. Alfter the split ringmember vhas 'been properly positioned `within the ller opening 12, theears 47 on the member 38 are grasped by one 'hand and the ears 37 of thejamb nut 33 are -grasped 'by the other hand and the jarnb nut 33 ismanually rot-ated to cause it to move down- Wardly along the threadedportion 31 of the bearing member 26. Continued rotation of the jamb nut33 toward the head 28 of the bearing member 26 will result in surfacecontact between the cooperating tapered surfaces '29 on t-he jamb nut33, and 36 on the head 28 of the lbe'arin-g member 26, with the surfaces44 and 46 on the member 38 to effect the expansion of the member 38 intofrictional gripping contact with the inner surface of theliller opening12 to releasably retain the fluid agitator 11i in desired position inthe container 11i. The yshaft 13 of the fluid agitator 10 may 'belowered to a position in which the tip 24 on the impeller 14 contactsthe inner bottom surface `of the container 11, as shown in Fig. l, andthe impeller 14 may be rotated by grasping and turning the operatinghandle 16 in either direction to effeet the desired agitating and mixingof the fluid within lthe container under the action of the severalimpeller blades 23.

After the mixing operation has been completed, the fluid agitator 1i?may be removed from the container 11, rif desired, by loosening of thejamb nut 33 to permit the member 38 to return to its normal contractedposition in which it may readily be lifted from the filler opening 12 ofthe container 11. Upward movement of the shaft 13 will result in contactbetween the top surfaces of the several impeller blades 23 `and thelower `surface of the shroud which surrounds the filler opening 12.Continued upward movement of the shaft 13 will effect the downwarddeflection of the several blades 23 and continued upward movement of theshaft 13 will cause the blades 23 to be further deflected to assumepositions which are substantially parallel and permit them to bewithdrawn through the filler opening 12. Reference to the dot-dash 'lineshowing of Fig. 3 illustrates the deflected position assumed by theseveral blades 23 of the impeller 14 as they `are being drawn upwardlythrough the filler opening 12.

:From the .foregoing detailed description of the present invention, itwill be noted that a new'and improved fluid agitator has been providedwhich is adapted for ready application to and removal from any containerhaving la relatively small filler opening. The basic concept of thepresent invention is predicated upon the provision of a new and improvedimpeller formed of resilient yieldya'ble material in which the impellerlblades normally lie -in extended positions disposed at a right angle tothe axis lof the impeller. The yieldable resilient characteristic of theimpeller 14 makes it possible for its blades to ybe deflected topositions in which they lie substantially paral- -lel to the axis of theshank 18 of the impeller 14 to thereby permit the ready insertion of theimpeller 14 through a relatively -small l'ler opening in the tank. Afterthe impeller 14 has passed through the ller opening 12 in the container11, the resilient nature of the material from Iwhich the impeller ismade permits the blades to reasvsume their normal extended positions inwhich the Iactive diameter of the impeller is several times greater thanthe diameter of the ller opening through which the impeller ywasinserted.

From the foregoing detailed description it will 'be apparent that asim-ple and effective fluid agitator has been provided which may readilybe applied to or removed from Ia Huid container having a small filleropening.

While the device has been described in considerable detail 4inconjunction with its use as an agitator for mixing gasoline and oil usedas f-uel for powering internal combustion engines, it is to 'beunderstood that the inven- -tion may be used with equal facility foragitating and mixing liquids in any containers having a small mouthopening.

While the invention has been d-escribed in considerable detail in theforegoing specification i-t i-s to be understood that various changesmay be made in its embodiment without 'departing from or sacrificing'any of the advantages hereinafter claimed.

lclairn:

l. A fluid agitator for application through and retent-ion in the filleropening of a container, said agitator comprising `a positioning andIguide means securable in the filler opening of the container, anoperating shaft journal'led for axial and rotational movement in saidpositioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one end of saidshaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient material fixedlysecured to the other end of -said shaft, said impeller including a shankporti-on and radial-ly extending blades normally disposed in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said shank portion, saidimpeller 'blades having a spread considerably `greater than the diameterof the ller opening of the container, said blades being deflectable inopposite directions under pressure contact with the filler openingthrough .axial movement in opposite directions -of said operating shaftthrough the filler opening in the container to deflect said blades fromtheir laterally extended positions to positions parallel to the axis ofsaid shank portion to permit the passage of the impeller 'blades throughthe filler opening, said impeller blades being returnable to theirnormal extended positions under the action of the resilientcharacteristic of the impeller when the same is disposed either withinor without the container.

2. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filleropening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guidemeans securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioningmeans including a member deformable under pressure to engage andfrictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said filleropening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movementin said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one endof said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient materialxedly attached to the other end of said shaft, said impeller including ashank portion and radially extending blades normally disposed in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said shank portion, each ofsaid blades including a yieldable neck portion connecting said blade andsaid shank portions whereby said blades are deflectable in one directionto a position wherein they lie parallel to the axis of said shankportion to permit the insertion of said impeller through the lleropening and dellectable in the opposite direction upon removal of saidimpeller from the container, said blades being returnable to theirnormally extended positions under the action of said yieldable neckportions.

3. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filleropening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guidemeans securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioningmeans including a member deformable under pressure to engage andfrictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said filleropening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movementin said positioning and guide means, a turningmeans applied to one endof said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient materialincluding a shank portion xedly secured to the other end of said shaftand a plurality of radially extending blades normally disposed in aplane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shank portion,said impeller blades having a spread considerably greater than thediameter of the filler opening of the container, said blades beingdeilectable in opposite directions under pressure contact with theliller opening upon axial movement of said operating shaft through theller opening in the container to selectively permit the admission orremoval of said impeller through the ller opening, said impeller bladesbeing returnable to their normal extended positions under the action ofthe resilient characteristic of the impeller when the same is disposedeither within or without the container.

4. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filleropening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guidemeans securable in the ller opening of the container, an operating shaftjournalled for axial and rotational movement in said positioning andguide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, and animpeller formed of yieldable resilient material and including a shankportion tixedly attached to the other end of said shaft and a pluralityof radially extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said operating shaft, each of said bladesincluding a resilient portion connecting said blade and said shankportion whereby said blades are deectable in one direction to permit theinsertion of said impeller through the ller opening and deectable in theopposite direction to permit the removal of said impeller through theller opening, said blades being deflectable in the opposite direction topermit the withdrawal of said impeller through the ller opening, saidblades being returnable to their normally extended positions under theaction of said resilient portions.

5. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the filleropening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guidemeans securable in the filler opening of the container, an operatingshaft journalled for `axial and rotational movement in said positioningand guide means, a turning means applied to one end of said shaft, andan impeller formed of yieldable resilient material including a shankportion xedly secured to the other end of said shaft and a plurality ofradially extending blades normally disposed in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said shank portion, said impeller bladeshaving a spread considerably greater than the diameter of the filleropening of the container, said blades being deectable in one directionunder pressure Contact with the ller opening in response to axialmovement of said operating shaft through the filler opening in thecontainer to permit the insertion of said impeller through the filleropening and deflectable in the opposite direction to permit the removalof said impeller through the filler opening, said impeller blades beingreturnable to their normal extended positions under the action of theresilient characteristic of the impeller when the same is disposedeither within or without the container.

6. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the lleropening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guidemeans securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioningmeans including a member deformable under pressure to engage andfrictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said filleropening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movementin said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one endof said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient materialand including a shank portion lixedly attached to the other end of saidshaft and a plurality of radially extending blades normally disposed ina plane substantially perpendicular to the axis` of said shank portion,each of said blades including a resilient portion connecting said bladeand said shank portion whereby said blades are dellectable in onedirection to permit the insertion of said impeller through the filleropening and detlectable in the opposite direction to permit thewithdrawal of said impeller through the ller opening, said blades beingreturnable to their normally extended positions under the action of saidresilient portions.

7. A fluid agitator for application through and retention in the lleropening of a container, said agitator comprising a positioning and guidemeans securable in the filler opening of the container, said positioningmeans including a member deformable under pressure to engage andfrictionally retain said positioning and guide means in said iilleropening, an operating shaft journalled for axial and rotational movementin said positioning and guide means, a turning means applied to one endof said shaft, and an impeller formed of yieldable resilient materialincluding a shank portion xedly secured to the other end of said shaftand a plurality of radially 'extending blades normally disposed in aplane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said operating shaft,said impeller blades having a spread considerably greater than thediameter of the filler opening of the container, said blades beingdellectable in one direction under pressure Contact with the filleropening upon axial movement of said operating shaft through the filleropening in the container to deflect said blades to a position whereintheir axes are disposed in parallel relationship with the axis of saidshank portion permit the insertion of the impeller through the filleropening and deliectable in the opposite direction to permit thewithdrawal of said impeller through the iller opening, said impellerblades being returnable to their normal extended positions under theaction of the resilient characteristic of the impeller when the same isdisposed either within or without the container.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS1,216,722 Patten Feb. 20, 1917 2,045,710 Haywood June 30, 1936 FOREIGNPATENTS 34,929 Sweden a Oct. 6, 1911 520,474 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1940

